Members of the underground revolutionary group Makabayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (Makibaka) held a “lightning rally” last March 17 in downtown Manila to mark the coming 47th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ New People’s Army (NPA).

Makibaka said it is right for women to join the revolution to emancipate themselves from poverty and other abuses as well as help in liberating Philippine society.

Members of the Philippine National Police were surprised as the women revolutionaries gathered and marched on the narrow streets of Manila’s Binondo area.

The NPA was founded in Tarlac Province in March 29, 1969 and has since been waging one of the world’s longest-running Maoist guerilla war.